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GOPAL CH SAMANTA

Clemson University, Aragen Life Sciences Private Limited, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, University of Calcutta

ORCID iD 0000-0002-7305-0397
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About

I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Clemson University, where my research focuses on the synthesis of peptidic aminoglycoside conjugates and the evaluation of their antibacterial properties. Throughout this program, I have gained comprehensive training and hands-on experience in the following areas:
(i) Chemical modification of aminoglycosides and their integration into peptide synthesis workflows;
(ii) Solid-phase and solution-phase synthesis of diverse glycopeptide libraries;
(iii) Biophysical characterization of aminoglycoside–peptide conjugates, particularly their binding interactions with nucleic acids.

During my doctoral studies in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, I focused on multiple facets of carbohydrate chemistry. My research primarily involved the synthesis of cyclic oligosaccharides and glycolipids, as well as their biophysical interactions with small molecules. In addition, I worked on developing new synthetic methodologies for anomeric glycosylation.
My training and expertise during this time encompassed:
(i) Organic synthesis, with an emphasis on multi-step oligosaccharide construction;
(ii) Design and synthesis of glycolipids and glycoconjugates for structural and functional studies;
(iii) Synthesis of cyclic oligosaccharides and investigation of their host–guest binding properties;
(iv) Biophysical analysis of multivalent carbohydrate–protein interactions, utilizing techniques such as Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).

My background as a synthetic chemist has equipped me with a diverse and robust skill set that provides a strong foundation for research in chemical biology and pharmaceutical sciences. Key areas of expertise include:
(i) Advanced organic synthesis, with substantial experience in planning and executing multi-step syntheses of biologically active compounds, supported by strong retrosynthetic analysis skills for complex molecular targets.
(ii) Proficiency in purification and analytical techniques, including size exclusion chromatography, HPLC, LC-MS, MALDI, NMR spectroscopy, and UV/fluorescence spectroscopy.
(iii) Hands-on experience with a range of biophysical techniques, such as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Circular Dichroism (CD), for studying molecular interactions and conformational behavior.
(iv) Computational chemistry capabilities, including molecular docking using AutoDock tools and conformational analysis using Gaussian software.
(v) Strong literature research skills, with extensive use of platforms such as SciFinder and Reaxys for reaction planning, mechanistic insights, and data mining.

Driven by a strong motivation for interdisciplinary and translational research, I am particularly interested in applying my academic training to industrial R&D. I am eager to contribute to innovative drug discovery and development efforts as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.

Employment

  • Clemson University Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    2022 - Present
  • Aragen Life Sciences Private Limited Associate Scientist
    2020 - 2021
  • Indian Institute of Science Bangalore UG Instructor (Under-graduate Programme)
    2020 - 2020

Education

  • Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Ph.D.
    2015 - 2020
  • University of Calcutta M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry)
    2012 - 2014
  • University of Calcutta B.Sc. (Chemistry Hons.)
    2009 - 2012

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (5)